City Stormwater Permit

The City of Hopewell owns and operates a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. A Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, or MS4, is defined as a system of stormwater conveyances including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, manmade channels, or storm drains. The operation and maintenance of this system is regulated under the Federal Clean Water Act through a permit issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ). The City’s permit, referred to as the MS4 Permit (9VAC25-890-40), requires the Stormwater Program to develop an MS4 Program Plan that is designed to reduce the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable (MEP) to protect water quality consistent with the appropriate water quality requirements of the State Water Control Law and attendant regulations.

The MS4 Permit is a 5-year permit, the most recent of which became effective on November 1, 2018, and scheduled to expire on October 31, 2023. The City’s coverage letter and permit can be found here.

The MS4 Program Plan is structured around the 6 Minimum Control Measures (MCMs) outlined in the MS4 Permit:

Public education and outreach on stormwater impacts;

Public involvement & participation;

Illicit discharge detection and elimination;

Construction site stormwater runoff control for regulated land disturbing activities;

Post-construction stormwater management on new and re-development projects; and

Pollution prevention/good housekeeping for municipal operations.

The City’s MS4 Program Plan details these activities and was recently updated in accordance with the 2018-2023 MS4 Permit. The Program Plan is available for review and public comment. The DRAFT Program Plan can be found here.

The citizens of Hopewell are invited to review the draft 2018-2023 MS4 Program Plan and provide feedback or recommendations. Send you comments to stormwater@hopewellva.gov.

Stormwater Program Personnel prepare an annual report due October 1 outlining the activities during the reporting period of July 1 through June 30. The most recent Annual Report can be found here.